Windows Vista is here. To anyone who has been sitting on the fence over whether to upgrade to Microsoft's new operating system, I'll say it loud and clear: It's time to make the jump. There are plenty of reasons to leave Windows XP and install Windows Vista, and below are my top 15 favorite

Movie making, gadgets, cool tools, nothing but a useless eye-candy - and not that sweet either.

ReadyBoost - a funny name for bloating your RAM.

Security - joke.

Price: Mortgage your kidneys.

You can have instead:

SUSE 10.2, which runs quite fine on a P3 with 512MB RAM and takes only 3GB to install, comes with 100+ useful applications, including Office, GIMP and a while lot more, infinitely better robustness, stability and security, constant updates, constant improvements, and the price of nil.

Ubuntu 6.10, which runs quite fine on a P3 with 256MB RAM and takes only 2GB to install, comes with 100+ useful applications, including Office, GIMP and a while lot more, infinitely better robustness, stability and security, constant updates, constant improvements, and the price of nil.

1. It's the Interface, Stupid
I don't need transparant windows and animation disturbs my concentration, just like security messages.2. Flip Over Windows Flip 3D
Not really necessary = pure gadgetry3. Live Thumbnails
Not really necessary = pure gadgetry4. Boost Performance With ReadyBoost
My computer is fast enough.5. Cool Performance Tools
I'm not that kind of person.6. Better Security
Windows and Security, hmmm... sounds like a contradictio in terminis.7. Find Anything Fast With Search
Not really necessary. I'm organized.8. Nifty Software Gadgets
Not really necessary = pure gadgetry.9. Better Wireless Networking
No wireless networking here.10. Map Your Network
No network here.11. Better Graphics With Windows Photo Gallery
Not interested in Photos and graphics in general.12. Become a Director With Windows Movie Maker
That could be interesting for me, if it does what I want.13. Better Notebook Support
Not needed.14. File Sharing and Syncing
Not needed.15. Protect Your Kids With Parental Controls
I need the opposite.

So I don't have much reasons to switch to Windows Vista.
In fact, I'm trying to tweak winXPproSP2 in order to get rid of all these gadgets and to customize winXPproSP2 forever with nLite.
I think winVISTA must be a new bone for Tweakhound.

7. desktop search.
Ms has got one for Xp if you really need one lol.
but im organised as well.
@Mrkvonic i agree with what you said about Suse 10.2
does opera work on suse 10.2?
also one last OT
does the 64 bit of suse work with all the programs?
unlike the joke windows xp 64 bit
lodore

It's true that looked on at face value, Vista doesn't present a great advance, particularly for those of us that like to play with the graphics and already feel reasonably secure. I can already simulate many of the apparent gains of Vista on my XP machine.

However the ability to emulate an effect, isn't the same as having the power of the underlying technology. So I'm not sure the examples given have been expressed in a particularly useful way.

I think it'll take a little time spent under the hood to appreciate the true nature of Vista - where it offers extended function, where it tries to restrict user choice etc........ so as it's a marathon and not a dash, I'll reserve judgement until it's been out for a while and the various tweaking communities have taken it apart.

I don't feel a need to rush out for it, but I'm likely to have to play with a version sooner or later.....

7. desktop search.
Ms has got one for Xp if you really need one lol.
but im organised as well.
@Mrkvonic i agree with what you said about Suse 10.2
does opera work on suse 10.2?
also one last OT
does the 64 bit of suse work with all the programs?
unlike the joke windows xp 64 bit
lodore

XP 64-bit was a poor attempt to try to enter the 64-bit market. Vista might be the first true 64-bit Windows. Linux 64-bit distros have been around for quite some time and proven worthy. Unix 64-bit has been with us from 1992. Windows 64-bit is only starting. The true usability of Windows 64-bit will be proven (or not) only in about 3-4 years.

I think i will wait till next yr to upgrade to Vista. Hopefully as from next yr SP1 will be out (making it more stable and better compatibility with hardware) and also when more program become compatible with vista etc...

And like that i will buy a new computer from scratch i need new hardware and now the hardware that will be coming out hopefully will be better for vista users.

Frankly, most of the things he spoke about are outside my domain. I do no like - or rather even dislike - the shiny gadgetry that the industry wishes to clog down our throats. I'm a bit conservative that way.

In that regard, the article missed the most important things that i need.

Simple design, robustness, zero errors, zero incompatibilities, low system footprint. The ability to control multi-OS environment with Windows and Linux machines cooperating, the ability to use resources across different systems and platforms, virtualization etc. Then, let's not forget web development or numerical computation and other crazy things I do.

Currently, all of these can be achieved simply and elegantly with minimum effort and very little financial burden using vastly superior Linux distributions. Windows XP is also quite OK in THAT regard - which is highly negated by other aspects of MS policies, like awful security, shady practices, bad business model.

Combined, you get a win-win situation with Linux - especially if you use virtualization software. Which cannot be said the other way around. Just think about it. Close to a 1,000 dollars for Windows Vista and Office!!! That's crazy. You can buy a new computer for that money and install Linux and Open Office. You win by saving money, you win by promoting open software, you win by getting products that are developed for the users, no backdoors, no corporate machinations, no buggy security.

From most articles that I read, Vista will offer lots of colors and eye effects to the new user - badly because you will need super machines for that - while reducing customizability that you have today. Furthermore, freedom will be endangered by new counter-technology ideas like DRM and such, all of which limit development and innovation and are aimed at simply vampiring money out of people's pockets. An insult to the hard-working, honest customer.

I do not need any special features because as a savvy user, my stuff will have already been organized. Transfer emails? Transfer music? Anyone with a bit of analytic approach will have organized them in non-default folders and ready to go.

Desktop search / file syncing - again the same basic principles apply. If a person is not capable of making his own backups / searches, why should they be entitled to use the computer at all?

New security models - most of which are aimed at limiting the user from exploring his freedoms as a user - are another affront to anyone with enough skill to turn off the PC without breaking in cold sweat. They will add little to the real user security. In fact, they might even hamper people. If you have problems with IE being integrated into the OS, think how much more entangled Vista components will be.

On the positive side, there's the 100% customizable Linux. Constant development, constant improvement, constant updates. International community. Sharing of ideas and principles and mutual help. Rich distributions full of excellent, fully functional and usually superior software. All for free. And best of all, the utmost satisfaction you feel when you type a command in Terminal and it works beautifully...

Mrk

P.S. Anyone who wishes to test Vista: turn off the fancy graphics, go with Classic View, Classic Taskbar, no desktop background, see how appealing the Vista really is....

i have already gone to the stuff under vista's new coat and its the same as xp
take system properties for example and its the same as xp or even 98 and Me
so its just a fat suit and secuirity features that should of been in XP when that shipped its around two years out of date and added more bloat.
i am gonna get a dvd of suse linux 10.2 shipped or download the iso image from the open suse site and try that out.
my lecurer at college prefers vista over Xp and he says he wont go back.
ICT is his field and he prefers vista whats this world come to.
he should be using linux on his laptop and not vista ugh.
lodore

1. You don't actually need it -- No, think about this. Vista doesn't do anything you can't already do with XP. About the only significant shift requiring Vista is DirextX10, but as no titles support it yet and, according to John Carmack (the godfather of modern gaming) there's no need to yet either.

2. Cost $$ -- It's so blindingly obvious, most people will be blinded to it. You already have XP, and alternatives like Linux are free. If you really want to throw money away, go give it to a local charity.

3. On that note, it's outrageously overpriced -- at least in Australia. As revealed in the current APC, even after taking into account the profit margin Microsoft Australia previously applied to XP (as well as exchange rates, as you would expect), Australians are paying hundreds of dollars more for their copies than in the US. In fact, it's cheaper for Australians to buy Vista direct by mail order from the States. If you think Microsoft Australia is reaming us, vote with your wallet.

Hello,
You do realize that UAC is nothing more than 2 x clicks you used to do in XP. Installing malware took 1 click or 2 at most in XP - now it takes 2 or 4 clicks. For noobs, the difference between good and bad software is nil. Effectively, it will take them 3-7 seconds more to get infected.
Mrk

I personally think it will be awhile before I try to do anything with Vista. I got to see the Microsoft event where they released Beta 1. I didn't like it then.

1) The interface is crap. I don't want transparent windows and a screwed up looking start menu. If I wanted it to look like a Mac, I would have bought a Mac. Heck, I even revert the XP interface back to the "classic" look because the fisher price interface is retarded. I am sorry there are so many people that have problems with the alt+tab shortcut. I personally don't, so having the dancing 3D windows pop up will annoying.

2) The sidebar, or whatever that little "Gadget" is called will be annoying. I keep my system running at a minimum at all times. I know where to find what I want, so I don't need some memory hogging process caching my most popular documents "Just in case" i need them.

3) I saw how overly annoying the multiple pop-up boxes are when tyring to install anything. I Demo and Test tons of software and just watching the guy try to do a simple install was ridiculous. If I am running as administrator to install something, I want it to immediately begin the install. Not ask me if I'm sure a dozen times. I wasn't even the one doing the demo and it irritated me. The UAC will work fine for many users who cannot read what they are installing, but for those of us that know what we are doing, it will be a pain.

I personally think it will be awhile before I try to do anything with Vista. I got to see the Microsoft event where they released Beta 1. I didn't like it then.

Click to expand...

I had the same experience, I tried Beta 1 and I told myself, never ever!
In december, I have decided to wait until SP1 or SP3 for XP will be released.
Then I have noticed, that vLite is out and I got my hands on Vista RTM as well.
So I decided to give it a try. The first impression was terrible, I almost got rid of it.
Then I created VistaLite and installed it, first difference: 15 min vs 35 min just for setup.
When VistaLite booted, I could not believe it, it was like running completelly different OS.
Vista Lite - 40 sec boot, Windows folder - 2,5 GB, runs smoothly even with Aero & effects.
Vista default - 5 min boot, Windows folder - 6 GB, it still laged, even without Aero & effects.
I have read, that Vista default lags even on high-end PCs like 3 GHz, 2 GB RAM, on my for sure.
Overall Vista Lite takes 250 MB RAM and 150 MB pagefile, Vista default at least 2-3 times more.

1. Windows Vista theme without Aero is as fast as XP, maybe faster.
2-3. Gadgets and UAC can be disabled with vLite along with other stuff.

I am not surprised, that people do not like Vista default, it is the worst OS I have ever seen.
But if they would give a try to vLite, well lets just say, that XP would not last too long.

As for me, I can say it like this, if vLite would not exist, I would be running Ubuntu right now.

I have XP nicely secured, Vista's security settings are no better/worse than MY setup.
All the eye candy stuff is well eye candy, doesn't really help productivity.
I don't have new enough hardware to benifit from the better notebook or wireless networking or performance boost and I dont need parental control.